UN report notes drop in number of Afghan civilians killed

A report by the UN mission in Afghanistan on Monday noted a drop in the number of civilians killed in violence in the first three months of this year, compared to the same time last year, but underscored the still heavy toll the conflict continues to inflict on the civilian population.

The report said 533 people, including 152 children, died due to the fighting in the war-torn country in the first quarter of 2020, and hundreds more were wounded.

That represented a 29 per cent decrease, compared to the same period in 2019, and the lowest death toll figure for a first quarter of a year since 2012.

The report came as the Kabul police said a sticky bomb attached to a vehicle detonated in the capital on Monday but caused no casualties.

According to the report, the Taliban and other anti-government militant groups, such as the Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan, were responsible for the majority of the civilian casualties during the first three months or 55%.

The Taliban were responsible for as many as 39% of civilian casualties, the report said, an increase by 22% compared to the same period last year.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the UN report as an attempt to cover up daily crimes against civilians committed by US and Afghan forces."